“We
decided two ships wouldn’t be enough to hold all of the exciting new
experiences we have been dreaming up to take family cruise vacations to a
whole new level," Chapek said.

As
chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, Chapek oversees Disney
Cruise Line as well as Disney's 12 theme parks, dozens of resort hotels
and the Disney Vacation Club. Walt Disney Parks and Resorts is a
subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (DIS).

The
newly announced Disney ship will be built at the Meyer Werft shipyard
in Papenburg, Germany. It's the same shipyard that is building the two
previously announced vessels.

While the design of
the new ships still is under development, Disney has said they will
measure approximately 135,000 tons. That's slightly larger than Disney's
two newest vessels, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy, which measure 130,000 tons. Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy debuted in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Disney has said each of the new ships would have about 1,250 cabins, the same number found on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Disney on Saturday added that each of the vessels is expected to have its own unique experiences.

Chapek
on Saturday promised ships with "immersive Disney storytelling,
world-class family entertainment, and imaginative innovations that are
fantastically fun and uniquely Disney.”

All three of the new vessels will be powered by liquefied natural gas, a departure from earlier Disney ships.

Launched in 1998, Disney Cruise Line operated for more than a decade with just two vessels, the similarly designed Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
Each of the ships measures 85,000 tons and has 877 cabins. The arrival
of the larger Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy at the start of this
decade more than doubled the company's passenger capacity. The three
ships on the way will result in nearly another doubling in capacity.

Disney
is known for innovation on its cruise ships. Disney Dream and Disney
Fantasy feature what are billed as the first water coasters at sea.
Disney also was the first cruise operator to offer high-tech virtual
windows in windowless "inside" cabins. Dubbed Magical Portholes, the
circle-shaped electronic windows offer a real-time view of the sea as
well as sightings of animated Disney characters.

Taking
place every other year, the D23 Expo is a major event for Disney fans,
drawing tens of thousands of people. It's organized by D23, the official
fan club for The Walt Disney Company.